Henry Macrory, the former tabloid hack and much-liked spinner for the Tory Party, told a tale of classic misunderstanding at his farewell party in Downing Street.

Manchester City remain hopeful that they will lure the Belgium midfielder Eden Hazard, one of their top two summer targets, amid suspicions that Chelsea's interest in the player may have been artificially inflated by his agents in a bid to secure a better deal.

Free parenting classes are not a "nanny state" policy, David Cameron insisted as he unveiled a number of initiatives aimed at helping families.

It required a superior footballer to impose a little order and quality and character on something that was otherwise destined to be remembered as one of football's most expensive and unbridled disasters.

A council has defended its decision to spend nearly £40,000 of taxpayers' cash on hosting a Diamond Jubilee visit by The Queen.

Whoever wins this afternoon, the Premier League title will stay in Manchester. Tim Rich reports

Streets ahead of the competition

They may be "forged in industry, striving for glory" but Manchester United appear to have missed the mark with a new checked gingham kit design - the club's fourth in four seasons.

TV pick of the week: The Town Taking on China

David Cameron's dream of elected mayors in all major cities looked to be in tatters today.

In movies since her teens, Chloë Sevigny can afford to be picky about her career choices – so how did she end up spending four months in Manchester? She talks to Gerard Gilbert.

Are you tired of sightseeing? Then why not try a smell tour instead. Jonathan Brown follows his nose around the streets of Manchester